Sunflowers and goldfinches

The sunflowers are just beginning to open as you can see from the one below. The shiny bit on the left hand side of the middle is actually a bee! I didn't realise until I put the picture on the computer that the bee was there.

This morning while I was in the kitchen washing up I was watching the house sparrows on the seed feeder and saw one flapping about with what I thought was something stuck on it's wing. Because I have a net curtain up at the window to allow me to see the birds and squirrels without them being able to see me, I couldn't be quite sure what it was. The little bird flew up onto the fence and I was able to get a good look at it. That's when I realised that it was a female goldfinch.
Over at the surgery the other day when I went for a check-up, they have seed feeders outside the window and one is filled with thistle seeds and the goldfinches love it. I always watch them while I wait.

Well, I thought, I know there are some goldfinches around here because sometimes I can hear them singing, so after lunch, I went over to the garden centre and bought some thistle seed and a special feeder. When I got back home, I filled the feeder and hung it out on the bird table. Now all I have to do is wait to see how long it takes them to realise that it's there!

I hope I can attract a few over because they are such pretty birds and I would love to be able to get a photo of them to put on the blog.